Veterans Given Days Off From Training Camp

Although it has been happening before the big story released today about Terrell Owens returning to practice from a day off, several veteran players have been given some time-off from practice by head coach Wade Phillips. But of course if T.O.’s involved, it makes headlines. According to the A.P. report, Owens was given the Saturday afternoon and Sunday workouts off, but since he was already prepared to practice before getting the word on Saturday, he practiced then and took Sundays’ and Monday morning’s practices off instead.

“It wasn’t like I was looking for a day off. … I’m just doing what the coaches are telling me to do,” Owens said. “If I was hurt, I’d be in the training room somewhere, or be out working with the trainers. But I feel fine, I feel good.” Although he was given the day off, Owens did stay on the field to watch and even get in the huddle to hear plays as they were called.

Several other players have also received some time off, such as Jason Witten, Flozell Adams and Zach Thomas, to name a few. Tony Romo practiced, but was given “lighter throws”, as Coach Phillips put it. Others will get some well-deserved time-off before the first scheduled day off on August 10th after their first preseason game with the Chargers.

Owens told the press that this is something that Phillips has done the last two camps and is very effective in helping with soreness and making everyone “…a little bit livelier.” It is in direct contrast to how his predeccesor, Bill Parcells, ran training camp, but like they say, if it’s working, don’t change it.

The Cowboys and Owens responded well to Phillips’ techniques last season with a high-powered offense that set many Cowboys’ records and Owens had one of his most productive seasons in thirteen years of playing in the NFL.

In other news, it seems there is a Cowboys fan that is even more fanatic about the team than I am. Ms. Price, as she is called by the team, is once again present and accounted for at training camp and makes quite an impact on both players and spectators. Even T.O. is quite aware of her presence on the sidelines as she yells in her distinctive voice that can be heard by almost everyone in Oxnard. Even other fans ask for her autograph and the media interviews her as if she were a member of the team. Wade Phillips has been seen speaking to her for several minutes at a time.